On average, users watch over 180 million hours of YouTube on TV screens every day.

YouTube is starting to get in on the TV commercial action. Here’s a quick update on a few changes they have made to the platform.

They know that marketers have been wanting a way to target and adjust bids according to TV viewers, so they have been hard at work building a rich YouTube experience for set-top boxes, gaming consoles, streaming devices like Chromecasts and smart TVs of all stripes.

On October 16 they launched the TV screens device type to make it easy for you to find engaged, valuable audiences while they are watching YouTube on that original device purpose-built for watching video: the TV. The TV screens device type joins computers, mobile phones and tablets in Google Ads and Display & Video 360, meaning you can tailor your campaigns for connected TVs – for example, by using a different creative or setting a specific device bid adjustment. You can also see reporting for ads that run on TV screens to help you determine the impact of these ads within your overall mix.

We’ve already seen that people react positively to ads on the TV screen – based on Ipsos Lab Experiments, YouTube ads shown on TV drove a significant lift in ad recall and purchase intent, with an average lift of 47 percent and 35 percent respectively2. And customers like Pixability are voicing their excitement for the feature:

“Consumers are cutting the cord and this is a tremendous opportunity for advertisers to reach their audiences in the living room with digital video. With the launch of TV Screens device targeting and measurement on YouTube, our customers are better able to understand how their audiences are watching TV screens, and connect with those audiences as they’re engaged in leaned-back viewing.” – David George, CEO, Pixability

Banner ads are kind of a pain but they can make all the difference in your Google Ads Display Campaign. Over that last few years I have been on the constant lookout to find what banner ads work and what banner ads do not work.

Here is my journey

Creating Pretty Banner Ads

Pretty looks pretty, but does it convert? Most ad agencies will create a nice branded banner that looks great and will get the approval of the exectutives, but has an extremely low click through rate. Here are some simple examples.

boring banner ads

I used to do this. Until I saw the results. The CTR (click through rates) were terrible and they just blended in with all the other banner ads.

Display Banner Ads That Convert

Couple months back I decided to create a new remarketing campaigns in Google Ads. Instead of uploading my banner ads I decided to use Google Responsive ads.

I uploaded Infographs and cropped the top section. It was a quick fix because I was able to use something that I had already created. Here is what it looked like.

I was not expecting much, but 2 weeks later I looked into the account and saw I had a lick through rate higher than 1%. That is pretty good. Almost 5X the average.

To test out my theory I had my artist create some other banner ads for companies we work with. Here is one for Twin Home Experts.

Here is what the actual banner ad looks like on a mobile phone. It’s Pretty eye catching.

The next time you are looking for a banner ad that will improve you Click Through Rate and your conversions, reach out. We have the staff on hand that can design the perfect banner ad for you business.

This is a real conversation between me and friend about her Unique Selling Proposition. When we finished I realized our conversation is exactly what businesses need to help discover their USP. You confuse your lose!

Instead of me preaching, you can just see how it comes together.

The struggle to discover a USP?

Jace: When creating a business you have to bring some type of value to the market place and you need to find people that will give up their hard earned cash for your product or service.

Value and customers go hand in hand. If you don’t have value you won’t have customers. If you don’t have customers your value really doesn’t matter.

What value are you going to bring and who are the customers?

Since you are starting a spa you need to ask what kind of services are you offering.

Spa? Cranial? Wellness? Massage? What is it?

What needs are you going to fill? What are the benefits?

You have to figure that out first and I don’t think you have.

Friend: Blualignment is about Body Alignment. Lol. bluAlignment “bringing you back to your body” is about organizing your body so that you don’t feel pain anymore. Tension, stiffness, etc. are not supposed to be an aspect of everyday life. Your body should be injury free. BluAlignment was created to bring you back.

Jace: Lol….ok so forget bring you back. That is confusing.

Friend: lol…My value is that I am getting people out of pain.

Jace: Closer

Friend: and teaching people how to get out of pain

Jace: Organize your body so that you don’t feel pain anymore. Now that makes a little more sense. Lol…bring you back to your body sounds like it should be on a soap commercial…haha

Friend: Lol….you never got it? My core mission is to help people out of pain, and that includes psychological pain, body pain and how its all woven together.

In the beginning, I’m starting with the physical, but it will expand to be all encompassing.

Jace: Nope never got it. You don’t say that anywhere on the site. Why not just say it?

Friend: Yeah…I should. It’s because I think a lot and say a little. Alos because I think I have to learn a 100 things everyday before I can help anyone, but its all just excuses like you said before.

Jace: Why not just say it?

Friend: Yeah. I haven’t really known how to say things on blualignment because I imagine myself 10 years in the future and I don’t think I know how to give what I want to give.

Again, it goes back to excuses. And school, and biding my time. and having a whole lot of faith in my future self. and not a lot in my current self. So, yeah I agree. I need to say it differently.

Jace: Yeah but I wouldn’t worry about that right now you can worry about that after you get customers you fake it till you make it.

Friend: OK. Whats directly wrong with how I am saying it now?I mean clarify when you said “you just need to say things a little different.”

Jace: Okay…so take a look at your website.

Friend: I did I am I didn’t say anything about helping get people out of pain.

Jace: Does it say anything about pain in the top two sections? Does it say anything at pain anywhere?

Friend: Nope. It does not. I just had this assumption thats why people see bodyworkers.

Jace: so that’s a perfect example…How is anyone supposed to know that you can solve their problem if you don’t tell him you can?

Jace: In marketing you cannot ever assume you have to treat everyone as if they’re 5 years old. The very first section needs to tell people the benefit. After that you can then have the section about you. So let’s adjust that whole top section of the website to address the fact that you get rid of people’s pain.

Friend: Can it be simple like: “BluAlignment’s mission is about helping you out of your pain. After a lifetime of chronic holding patterns and injury; come in to realign your body, relax, and rejuvenate. “

Jace: :|…Kind of….:(

Friend: BluAlignment is about reorganizing your body to live a pain-free life. After a lifetime of injuries and chronic holding patterns; come in to realign your body, relax, and rejuvenate.

Lol…I’m a sensitive person, but my feelings aren’t easy to hurt. So no stress about truth if ya feel me.

Jace: Think 5 year old

Friend: Lol…OMG…Bodywork is so second nature. I don’t even know anymore what normal people know about their body…SHIZ

Jace: No Swearing…:)

Friend: I didn’t. I changed the spelling

Jace: I promise you if you can figure out how to be simple people automatically gravitate towards your message. I should be writing all of this down and making a book out of it. haha

Friend: Ok what about this? “After a lifetime of injuries and chronic holding patterns; come in to realign your body, relax, and rejuvenate bringing you one step closer to a pain-free body.”

Jace: When somebody asks you what do you do…. What are you going to tell them? Imagine telling somebody that in an elevator. What would they think?

I can see it now… imagine leaning over putting your arm on their shoulder and saying…After a lifetime of injuries and chronic holding patterns; come in to realign your body, relax, and rejuvenate bringing you one step closer to a pain-free body.

Friend: Hi. Guy, I have 10 seconds with. I work with the connective tissue in your body that is responsible for organizing and compartmentalizing your body. The work I do frees your body from old injuries and stress. Ok BYEEEE…. Lol

Jace: Yep and they would say that girl’s crazy…

Friend: Ok let me try again

Jace: Yes think about it. You need to start there. If a customer doesn’t know what you do within 5 Seconds of hitting your website you lose. When you confuse you lose.

Friend: Getting you out of pain. done…:) Does your 5 yr old get that?

Jace: Closer… So when people ask you what you do? I get rid of people’s pain….

Friend: I get rid of peoples pain by touching them….lol

Jace: You don’t need to say how you do it yet. You let them ask that question. Or that happens in your next sentence. Think about it this way. If somebody is in pain and they meet you and you tell him/her you get rid of pain….what do you think happens next?

Friend: They say “hey, i was gonna ask for your number anyway, but now this is perfect. got a card?”

Jace: hahah…You’re thinking the wrong clientele. I picture an old lady in an elevator. Your picturing some dude at a dance

Friend: aw. Ok. You’re right. Too many guys in my life. Old lady. I like this.

Jace: Ok so now you need to adjust the message

Friend: Ok, but if i say I help people get out of pain. You said its closer, but not quite.

Jace: Well you have kind of the second section which also talks to the benefit to the consumer. What is the end result that the consumer wants?

Friend: what about something like this? Bringing you out of pain and towards optimal health through touch therapy.

Jace: Once again why did you go back. I can bring somebody to church…I can bring somebody on a date… I can bring something to work…but I would never say I can bring me out of pain. Do you get rid of people’s pain or not? Or are you bringing them out of pain? whatever that is. Why not “I get rid of people’s pain through touch thearpy.”

Friend: Ok. point made. Is this 5 yr old worthy?

Correcting imbalances in the body giving you guaranteed and lasting pain relief, while allowing you to unwind and relax. Call for a free consultation. Maybe I won’t say guaranteed. Just never mind for a second. I’m editing it again.

Jace: Haha…Guaranteed is a good thing. People want guarantees. They hate risk and a guarantee eliminates risk.

Friend: Life is a risk. But yeah I get it Im just kidding btw, sort of. How does this sound… is it too much?

BluAlignment corrects imbalances in the body that gives guaranteed and lasting pain relief, while simultaneously allowing you to unwind and relax enabling your body’s self-healing mechanism. Call for a free consultation.

What does guaranteed even mean? That no matter what, you won’t leave this office with pain… Or does it mean if I can’t deliver, I assume full responsibility including ownership of compensation?

Jace: Yeah they guarantee doesn’t work in this situation. Basically I guarantee is the stuff you do works. That sentence is kind of messed up. You’re referring back to in balances. What do you think of when I say Geico?

Friend: 15 minutes could save you 15%

Jace: Think of the size and what Geico actually really does behind the scenes. They’re humongo company that does billions of dollars and the only thing they want you to think of is 15 minutes could save you 15%.

You’re still overthinking. List to it.

“BluAlignment corrects imbalances in the body that gives guaranteed and lasting pain relief, while simultaneously allowing you to unwind and relax enabling your body’s self-healing mechanism. Call for a free consultation.”

Friend: BluAlignment uses touch therapy to correct imbalances in the body that gives guaranteed and lasting pain-relief. Call for a free consultation.

Sales and lead generation will make or break a business. Yet we get so distracted that we forget the most important task. Sowing! Do you know the story?

The Sower is a simple parable that I like to use whenever I think about marketing and sales. It’s the perfect story to illustrate what it takes to win in business. I caught onto this early when I started my first company and is has been my secret ever since.

The story of sowing and reaping actually comes from the Bible. Jesus taught in parables and presented this great story to the multitude. Originally, this was used for preaching the gospel, but Jim Rohn a big mentor of mine applied this great story to business and marketing.

Jim died a little bit ago, but I love to use his ideas when speaking. Since he is now dead I have adopted it as my own and want to make sure the message continues on.

The Parable Of The Sower

Firstly, the sower was ambitious. When you read the whole story you’ll conclude yes, this was an ambitious sower.

Here was number two. He had excellent seed. The sower who sowed the seed had excellent seed. The excellent seed could be an excellent opportunity, an excellent product, an excellent story.

Without ambition you will quit and without a good product, service, or opportunity you will not succeed either.

Mini Lesson 1

Don’t sell crap! I can’t tell you how many times I see people selling a terrible product or service. It’s pretty hard to get any momentum if your seed is no good. Evaluate your product and make sure it is as good as it can be.

Mini Lesson 2

Ambition and hard work are required.

Sales and Marketing take a lot of work. It takes ambition and determination to see things through. Whether you are an owner or a simple employee. Results take a lot of effort. Once the seed is planted and the lead it captured you then have to nurture that lead into a qualified customer.

You will be tested and tried to see if you are worthy of an entrepreneur lifestyle. Don’t quit or leave the field, just keep sowing.

The Story

“A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured them. And some fell upon stony places; and as soon as it was sprung up, they were scorched because of no root. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold”

The Lesson (Jim Rohn)

“The sower goes out to sow the seed, but the first part of the seed falls by the wayside and the birds get it.

So jot this down. The birds are going to get some of the seed.

Now you say, “Mr. Rohn, what does that mean?” Well, I invited John to come to a meeting. He said he’d be there Tuesday night. Tuesday night I show up. John isn’t there. I say, “I wonder why John didn’t make it.”

Now I know the answer. The birds! The birds! John had this great idea of coming to the meeting to look at an opportunity, and somebody stole it and said, “You’re not going to go see network marketing.” And he says, “Well, maybe not.” So have you jotted that down now? The birds are going to get some of the seeds.

Now when the birds get some, you’ve got two options. Number one is to chase birds. You say, “Well, let me get hold of the person who talked him out of coming to the meeting. I’ll tear him a new page.” I wouldn’t do this. Here’s what happens if you go chasing birds. You leave the field. If you go chasing birds now, you stop sowing. This is going to detract from your future, not add.

So you can’t chase birds and try to straighten this stuff out. Here’s what it is. It’s just one of those things, and here’s the best comment when things are a little disappointing. “Isn’t that interesting?” You just have to say, “I thought sure he would be there. He promised me! But I know it was the birds.” And you just have to say, “Isn’t that interesting?”

Now here’s the rest of the story.

The sower kept on sowing. See, that was the secret to his success. He kept on sowing. And if you keep sowing, you can sow more than the birds can get because there aren’t enough birds. If you keep sowing, there are always some birds but there’s not enough, because the Law of Averages will work for you.

The sower now keeps sowing the seed.

Now the seed falls, the story says, on rocky ground where the soil is shallow. And the rocky ground where the soil is shallow.

This time, the little seed that falls in the ground starts to grow and the little plant starts to grow. But the first hot day, it withers and dies. Not an easy thing to watch. I finally get John started. Sure enough, three or four days later somebody says “Boo!” and he’s gone–doesn’t show up at the second meeting. And I say, “I thought sure John would last a week.” What happened?

Jot this down.

The hot weather is going to get some.

And this is not of your making.

Here ́s what you must say when that happens. “Isn’t that interesting?” What can you do? The answer is nothing. You say, “Well, I’m going to try to change this!” I wouldn’t take that class. You know, the sun comes up in the east and somebody says, “Why is that?” I wouldn’t spend much time on that. Just let that happen. Don’t go for this why, why, why stuff. I’m giving you the answers here. The answer is in the structure and in the consequences and is in the deal.

The answer is in the deal.

Anything beyond that is not worth studying. You say, “Well, how come some just last a little while?” I wouldn’t sign up for that class either. Here’s the answer: Some don’t stay. You just have to jot that down. And when some leave you say, “That’s one of those who don’t stay.”

Now, you know what category to put them in, and you can’t solve this now. It’s like rearranging the seasons. You can’t fool with that. All you can do is cooperate with the way things are set up. I didn’t set it up. You say, “Well, it shouldn’t be this way.” Well, when you get your own planet you can rearrange this whole deal, but on this planet you ́re a guest.

You’ve got to take it as it comes. Now, here is the secret to the ambitious sower with good seed.

It said he kept on sowing.

Here’s what he had to do to keep on sowing. He had to discipline his disappointment. This is a key phrase now to use for the rest of your life. You must learn to discipline your disappointment. Because you didn’t set up the set up, and some are not going to stay, and that is not of your making.

Now, if you made gross errors and you ran them off, see that’d be different. You’re responsible for that. But if it’s in the normal course of things … this is just the way things are. Here’s what it says. The sower keeps on sowing.

Now it says the seed falls on thorny ground. And somebody says, “Well, how much of this do you have to go through?” Well, hang on. It’s not the end of the story. The little seed falls on thorny ground and the little plant starts to grow again, but as the little plant starts to grow, the thorns choke it to death and it dies. So jot this down. The thorns are going to get some. And that’s not of your making. And what are these thorns?

The story even called these little thorns little cares, little distractions, little somethings.

Who knows what they all are. I said, “John, we had a meeting last night. You weren’t here.” And John says, “Well, I can’t make every meeting.” I say, “Why not? You’re part-time.” He said, “Well, the screen door came off the hinges and you can’t just let your house fall apart. You’ve got to take some time and fix things up.”

And I can hear the thorns growing.

He said, “Some extra trash had piled up in the garage. You can’t let mountains of trash take over. You’ve got to keep your trash hauled out.” People let little things cheat them out of big opportunities, and you feel almost helpless. What could I do about that? And the answer is nothing. And you say, “Well, why is this?” I’m asking you not to sign up for that class. Don’t sign up for these, “Why is this?” classes. It’s just the way it is – like winter following fall and spring following winter.

So have you got that?

The thorns are going to get some.

Now here’s the good news. The sower now keeps on sowing the seed. Keeps on sharing the story. Keeps on giving an invitation. Yes the invitation can be more powerful for me now as it is one year later than it was the first month, because now I’m saying I’m making twice as much money part time as I’m making on my fulltime job. The story can be more powerful, but the Law of Averages is still going to work.

Now here ́s what the story says. Finally the seed falls on good ground. Now put this in parentheses.

It always will, if you keep sowing.

If you share a good idea long enough, it will fall on good people. So here’s the rest of that story. Some of the good ground did 30%. And some of the good ground did 60%. And some of the good ground did 100%. You say, “Well, why the difference in numbers?” I wouldn’t sign up for that class!

Have I said that often enough now? Don’t register for that class. It’s just the way it is. I tried to get the 30 ́s to do 60. Found out it was more than I could handle. I used to say, “I’ll make them successful if it kills me.” I almost died. No, you can’t do that. Here’s what you do. Let the 30’s do 30 to the best of their ability, because that’s how they build their lifestyle and get what they want out of life. And let the 60’s do 60. And let the 100’s do 100.